I’m happiest in the kitchen, spatula in hand

It’s where I do my own form of meditation, where I think through my day, and where I develop my own my (few) inspired recipes.

One of my earliest memories is sitting in my Grams’ kitchen, buttering Parker House rolls for Thanksgiving, surrounded by the extraordinary women in my family. I’ve been a baker ever since she patiently helped me make Betty Crocker’s famous Cinnamon Streusel crumb cakes at the age of three. We moved on to pie crust and birthday cakes and can’t-just-have-one Christmas cookies, and I never looked back.

As one of my beloved brands, Penzey’s Spices, says: “Love People - Cook Them Tasty Foods” - or, for me, bake them. I am a firm believer in the power of culinary diplomacy - between cultures or even just among new friends. No one can resist a great cookie and one of my absolute favorite things is the post-first-bite smile (or sigh!). I’d be honored to share that with you and your people.

Go forth and eat pastry!

Chargé Jen